Hal Steinbrenner is Talking Again…

The Greedy Pinstripes isn’t the only publication or figure already talking about the July 31^st trade deadline, the fever is spreading as we inch closer to July baseball here in 2017. The New York Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner is also talking about the July 31^st trade deadline and the Bronx Bombers chances at making the postseason this season. Last time we checked in with Hal the Yankees owner stated that the team would be willing to acquire players at the deadline but not at the expense of top prospects and that the team would either stand pat or buy, they would not be sellers this time around. Hal was asked again this week and here is what Steinbrenner had to say while he was a guest on Mike Francesa’s WFAN show.

Steinbrenner was quoted as saying “The same approach as it always is, which is we’re going to leave no stone unturned” when asked about the Yankees approach to the trade deadline in 2017. Steinbrenner went on to say that “We’re going to look at anything that comes our way. If it fills a need that we certainly have we’re going to consider it. But I have been hesitant the last few years to give up our top prospects. Everybody knows that. And here we are because of it. You know? One of the reasons anyway. So it’s going to have to be the right deal, it’s going to have to be a glaring need and it’s going to have to be the right fit for that need to consider it. But we’re going to consider anything. We do every July. There’s a lot of work to be done in the last two weeks of July.”

Steinbrenner then went on, like he always does, to praise top prospects like Chance Adams, Clint Frazier and Dustin Fowler which really impresses me. I know I was young when George Steinbrenner was at the top of his tyrant days, and I use that word as sarcastically as I possibly can, but I cannot remember Steinbrenner, senior, ever being able to hold his own in a discussion regarding prospects. Ever. Never ever. The fact that Hal has taken a true interest in the farm system is encouraging to me, even if he is a cheap bastard. Not sarcasm that time. Sorry but it’s my opinion.

So what will the Yankees do at this year’s July 31^st trade deadline? Did Hal drop any hints? Honestly, I don’t think so. The Yankees may take on a salary dump that is a free agent at the end of the season or an aging veteran that they hope they find lightning in a bottle with but New York is not going to be able to have their cake and eat it too. They aren’t going to find young, good and controllable players without giving up some of the prospects that they refuse to give up. It just doesn’t work like that, period, so don’t get your hopes up too far for this season’s trade deadline.